CU-Boulder To Start Search For Athletic Director

February 13, 1997

A search has begun for a permanent director of intercollegiate athletics for the University of Colorado at Boulder, according to Chancellor Richard L. Byyny. The position currently is held on an interim basis by Dick Tharp.

Tharp became interim athletic director in August 1996 following the resignation of former Director Bill Marolt.

Other members are Sally Hansen, tri-executive of the University of Colorado Student Union; Ken Kriz, president of Mountain Mobile Home Park in Glenwood Springs; Jerry McMorris, chairman, president and CEO of Nationsway Transport Services, Inc. and Colorado Rockies Baseball Club; Ric Porreca, director of budget and planning; Mike Preston, professor of English and chair of the Boulder Faculty Assembly Subcommittee on Intercollegiate Athletics; physicist Joe Romig, a former CU All-American football player; Peter Spear, dean of arts and sciences; and Stuart Takeuchi, CU vice president for administration.

Shari Robertson, director of human resources, will serve in an ex-officio capacity.

"CU-Boulder aspires to have athletic and academic programs of the highest caliber," Byyny said. "I expect the search to attract widespread interest from a large number of highly qualified applicants and nominees. For this position, we are seeking a leader and administrator capable of moving the program into the top tier of public institutions with excellent athletic and academic accomplishments."

The director serves as a university representative to regional and national organizations such as the Big 12 Conference and the NCAA.

The department, which includes a staff of about 130 employees, manages a budget of more than $20 million. Athletics-related facilities include the Dal Ward Center, Balch Fieldhouse, Folsom Field, Potts Field, Prentup Field, the football practice facility and the Coors Events/Conference Center.

The position will be posted immediately. Nominations and applications may be submitted to Jerry Rutledge, chair, Search Committee for Director of Intercollegiate Athletics, University of Colorado at Boulder, Campus Box 475, Boulder, CO 80309-0475. The committee is expected to begin formal evaluation of applications in March.